Chapter 11: But what if He refused?
1282 Words
After the meeting was over, Aria stood by her office window, arms crossed loosely across her chest, watching the skyline.
From this high up, the city looked smaller. Manageable even.
She had to come up with a solution, a long time solution that will shut all the gossips for good.
But what could she use? What will definitely shut the gossips for good?
A soft knock on her office door interrupted her, from thinking.
“You can come in,” she said.
The door opened gently and her father stepped inside, his tailored suit as crisp as always, his expression carrying none of the coldness it had during the meeting.
Her forehead wrinkled in surprise upon seeing her father.
Since she took over as CEO, he hardly comes into the office and when ever he does like today, he goes home immediately after. According to him, he was no longer needed at the office.
Daniel Lin closed the door behind him and walked to her desk, glancing around the room like it hadn’t changed. “You always did like the corner seat,” he said lightly.
She allowed a small smile. “It’s more efficient.”
“Or more dramatic.” he chuckled.
He studied her for a beat, then walked over and pulled her into a warm hug.
“Take things easy, Aria,” he murmured, his voice low and comforting. “Even iron cracks under too much heat.”
She closed her eyes for just a second.
“I’m fine, Dad.” she said, her voice softening. She rested her head on his shoulder.
“I know. But you don’t have to be all the time.” He said, a soft smile on his lips.
When he pulled back, he looked at her with that same amused glint he used when she was twelve and trying to out-negotiate him for more cookies, even though her mother usually warned him not to.
“So… Ethan Luo, huh?” her father asked casually.
Aria raised a brow. “Don’t start.”
She bit into her bottom lip, trying to contain her grin.
“Oh, I’m starting,” he said with a chuckle. “You know, I always liked him. He is sharp, loyal and knew how to listen. That’s very rare.”
His eyebrows rose along with his smile.
“He still works for me, Dad.” she grumbled.
“That’s not what the tabloids say,” he teased. “When you get home, I want to hear the real version from you. Not the PR one.”
“There is no version,” she replied flatly, her eyes sparkling.
He gave her a knowing look. “Mmhmm. And you just randomly kissed your assistant in front of half of Linyang for fun?”
"Princess I'm glad you broke up with Adrian, I really am. I never liked him and I always thought he was never good enough for you. But Ethan on the other hand. You remember all those time I said he was perfect for you?" He teased.
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Of course I do. You wouldn't stop trying to get us to meet. But I don't want to be in any relationship for a long time." She muttered.
Her father shook his head, still smiling. “Alright, Ironheart. I’ll leave you to your spreadsheets and your silent war with the media. Just don’t forget you’re not alone in this. And maybe… soften a little. With him.” he teased, grinning at her her.
“Dad.” she groaned, her lips twitching.
“I’m going.” he raised his hands up in surrender, while chuckling.
He started toward the door, then paused, his hand on the handle. “And for what it’s worth, if you ever do end up with Ethan, make sure I get a seat at the wedding.”
Though she was trying to hide it, the corners of her mouth were twitching upwards.
Aria rolled her eyes. “Out.” she responded.
Laughing under his breath, her father slipped out the door.
She turned back to the window, her lips softening with a smile.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop grinning.
Her father loved teasing her, since she was little. It became a habit of his now and she got to admit... She missed it so much.
When her parents died in her first life, nothing made sense at first. It was as if a part of her soul had died with them.
And Adrian wasn't there to comfort her, he was always claiming to be busy. She should have know by then that it was because he didn't love her.
But no more. She would never let a man dictate her live again. She is done with all things love for good.
Aria stood barefoot on the marble floor of her penthouse, a glass of red wine untouched in her hand.
As the current CEO of Lin Corporate, she is entitled to her own penthouse at Skyhaven Heights, home to elite apartment and penthouse, but she rarely comes here.
She only comes here when she has some brainstorming to do or she was too tired to go all the way in Haiyuan Bay, a wealthy coastal neighborhood with private piers, designer boutiques, and gated estates were her parents owns a mansion and we're she stays.
The board hadn’t said it out loud, but she heard it in their tones... You’re brilliant, but we’re scared.
And she didn’t blame them. The headlines had teeth.
> “CEO or Seductress? Aria Lin’s Dangerous Brand of Power.”
>“The Kiss, The Assistant, and The Scandal That Won’t Die.”
She’d silenced the worst of it. She made sure a press statement was released before she left the office and firing Karla had helped... But now she needed more than silence, a counter-move.
Something that wasn’t cold press releases or stiff public denials.
Something real, that will shut the media for good.
But what? What will do the trick?
She moved closer to her dining table, where she had spreed some documents that needed her signature.
She dropped her wine glass and picked up one of the documents.
It was the project proposal that Ethan dropped on her desk yesterday, before blaming her for ending his relationship and storming out of her office.
A knot tightened in her chest. She hadn't meant for that to happen, infact contrary to what he must have thought, she wouldn't have kissed him, if she knew he had a girlfriend.
She never heard of him saying it. He lived his life privately, which was good she guess.
He didn’t like her, not even a little bit and she knew that.
Wait.
Ethan doesn't like her, in fact she could say he hates her.
Which was perfect, for the idea that just popped up in her head.
It's crazy she knows, but if it goes well? The scandal will be old news.
She swallows a lump in her throat.
But what if He refused?
The muscles in her arms and shoulders bunched suddenly.
She was considering asking him to stand beside her.
Her gaze hardened, and in that instant, her hesitation vanished. Whatever doubt had lived in her was gone now.
Because the public didn’t want perfection. They wanted redemption arcs, they wanted softness, love and flaws.
They wanted to believe she was capable of being vulnerable, even if she wasn’t.
It was a risky plan, but it was worth trying.
Ethan has no choice than to accept.
She gaze a far away smile, as though in her mind she was already holding the trophy in her hand.
- Writer
